Patriots Abroad, Prostitutes at Home
How politicians are using the war on terrorism to reward special interests

Immediately after September 11, Republicans and Democrats joined hands, stood patriotically on the steps of the United States Congress, and in a united voice warbled God Bless America. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle hugged Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott. New York Senator Hillary Clinton and her former foe Rudy Giuliani toured Ground Zero hand in hand. And one by one, members of both parties in Congress proclaimed that in these trying times, there is simply no place for partisan politics in America. (Hell, the president even reprimanded Jerry Falwell for blaming fags and feminists for the World Trade Center attacks.)

Three months later, Washington politicians have returned to doing what Washington politicians do, rewarding special interests. But now they are doing so in the shadows of the war on terrorism, hoping that no one will notice that while they talk about patriotism, they engage in pure partisanship. A patriot, after all, is someone who is devoted to and stands ready to defend his or her country. Recent acts by congressional and cabinet members, however, indicate that they are devoted to and stand ready to defend only the special interests they cater to.

Let’s start with Attorney General John Ashcroft and his recent attack on Oregon’s physician-assisted suicide law. During his confirmation hearings, Ashcroft promised to put his personal right-to-life views aside. And, before September 11, Ashcroft did nothing to indicate he would independently attempt to override a physician-assisted suicide law (twice passed by Oregonians) to appease fellow pro-lifers.

Earlier this year–at Ashcroft’s urging–his staff recommended issuing a directive that physician assisted-suicide is not a legitimate medical purpose, and therefore violates the Federal Controlled Substances Act. (This position is contrary to an earlier interpretation by Janet Reno, Clinton’s attorney general.) Ashcroft did nothing with this directive initially. Instead, he waited until after September 11, when the press and public became preoccupied with the war on terrorism, to issue a directive that any Oregon doctor who prescribes drugs to those who are terminally ill will be pursued by the federal government.

Ashcroft has taken other frightening positions in the name of freedom that reflect his personal views. Specifically, he sought expanded federal wiretapping ability, asked to detain individuals suspected of terrorism indefinitely without charging them, and has begun eavesdropping on conversations between detainees and their lawyers. While each of these acts might chill civil libertarians, at least Ashcroft can assert that these measures affect only a few and are necessary to protect the masses. By attacking physician-assisted suicide at a time when he thinks no one will notice, Ashcroft is taking extreme measures to override the will of the many (the Oregon law passed 60 to 40 percent) to reward the support of a few.

Enough about Ashcroft. Let’s talk about the Republican congress. Immediately after September 11, the U.S. Senate voted 100-0 (50 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and 1 Independent) to make air travel a matter of federal concern and regulation. A few right-wing nuts, Dick Armey and Tom DeLay, become apoplectic with the prospect of nationalizing air safety, refused to pass a Congressional bill that mirrored the Senate bill, and shut down the legislation altogether. As a result, in the wake of the September 11 attacks, Congress has left Americans with an airport security system that is auctioned off to the lowest bidder–a bidder that has a history of hiring those with criminal histories to provide airport security.

But perhaps the most repugnant act the "patriots" will commit is their recent attempt to stimulate a war-depressed economy. Specifically, within the past few weeks, Republicans in Congress have begun promoting an economic stimulus package that is purportedly intended to kick-start the economy out of recession. It is filled with paybacks for the largest Republican contributors–including a retroactive tax cut (i.e. refunds) for big corporations–and has a price tag of $100 billion in its first year. (Senate Democrats have countered by loading down their package with their own pork-barrel spending projects.) In defense of this bill, Armey argued that it would create 170,000 jobs. That means for every $588,000 refunded to large corporations, one new job will be created. Such a deal.

Before September 11, even John Ashcroft and Dick Armey would not have pandered so shamelessly to their right-wing and corporate special interests. Since September 11, they’ve discovered that the war on terrorism has provided them great cover to pimp for their favorite causes. How unpatriotic.